Reporters Without Borders: Bulgarian Media Fully Muzzled

Bulgaria reached the shameful 87th place in the latest Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, down 7 spots in comparison with 2012, lagging behind countries such as Kosovo and Guinea. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria has slumped further in Reporters Without Borders' annual press freedom index, languishing at the bottom of the table among EU countries.

Bulgaria reached the shameful 87th place in the latest Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, down 7 spots in comparison with 2012, lagging behind countries such as Kosovo and Guinea.

Bulgaria's promises of reform came to nothing and the Internet ceased to be a safe place for freelance journalists, the report points out.

Reporters Without Borders tabulates 179 countries according to its perceptions of media freedom. Finland retained its place at the top of the table for a second year in a row, with Eritrea again bottom of the pile, behind even North Korea.

Turkmenistan, war-torn Syria, Somalia, Iran and China were also propping up the index. Syria was named the most dangerous country for working journalists, with Somalia next in line.

The Netherlands jumped from equal third position to second at Norway's expense.